与动词不定式一样，动词的- ing 形式也具有动词的特征，有时态和语态的变化，并可带状语、宾语等。

 动词- ing 形式的一般式可用来泛指一个动作，没有特别的时间意义。

 游泳是她最喜欢的体育运动。Swimming is her favorite sport

 学习对现代生活很重要。Learning is important to modern life

动词- ing 形式的一般式可用来表示和谓语动词同时发生的动作。

 他们有说有笑地走出教室。They went out of the classroom talking and laughing

 她倾听她邻居的讲话。She listened carefully to her neighbours speaking

动词- ing 形式的一般式有时也可表示在谓语动词的动作之前或之后发生的动作。

 我记得上星期给他发过一份电子邮件。I remembered sending him an e- mail last week

 他建议下个星期天带我女儿去动物园。He suggested taking my daughter to the zoo the next Sunday

动词的- ing 形式的完成式表示一个已完成的动作，这个动作发生或完成在谓语动词表示的动作之前。

 在这个城市生活了3年，她对这里已很熟悉。Having lived in this city for three years, she knows it very well

 错过了这么振奋人心的演讲，我真的很遗憾。I really regretted having missed such an exciting lecture

在现代英语中，作宾语的- ing 形式的完成式可用一般式来代替。

 错过了这么振奋人心的演讲，我真的很遗憾。I really regretted missing such an exciting lecture

    I really regretted having missed such an exciting lecture

 我们记得看过这部电影。We remembered seeing the film  

  We remembered having seen the film

动词的- ing 形式的被动形式表示它的逻辑主语是- ing 形式表示的动作的承受者。

一般式的被动形式

 正在讨论的问题很重要。The question being discussed is very important

 我不堪久候。I can't stand being kept waiting

完成式的被动形式

 我听说他被选为球队的教练。I heard of his having been chosen to be the coach of the team

 在被带去看了实验室之后，我们又被带去参观校图书馆。Having been shown the lab we were taken to see the school library

动词的- ing 形式的否定形式是由 not 加动词的- ing 形式构成。

 他没来使在场的每个人都很失望。His not coming made everyone present very disappointed

 我很抱歉没能按时赴会。I'm sorry for not being present at the meeting in time

 不知道他的地址，我只好在家里等着。Not knowing his address I could do nothing but stay at home and wait

 因为没有努力学习功课，他考试不及格。Not having studied his lessons very hard he failed the examinations

动词的- ing 形式可直接置于句首作主语。

 百闻不如一见。Seeing is believing

 集邮很有趣。Collecting stamps is interesting

 学习有关语言的知识比使用语言容易。Learning about a language is easier than using it

 被邀请参加晚会是这家人的荣耀。Being invited to the party was a great honor to the family

为了保持句子平衡，通常用先行词 it 作形式主语，而把真正的主语放在句末。

 制定计划很容易，实行它却很难。it is easy making plans but it is difficult carrying them

 作无益的后悔是没有用的。it is no use crying over spilt milk

 争论这事是浪费时间。it's a waste of time arguing about it

动词的- ing 形式作主语的几个常用句型。

 和他谈话是没有用的。it's no good talking to him

 给他打电话没用。他不愿意来。it is useless telephoning him  He is not willing to come

 努力一下是值得的。it's worth making an effort

 无法断定这场雨什么时候会停。There is no saying when it will stop raining

 这种事开不得玩笑。There is no joking about such matters

动词的- ing 形式作表语的有两种不同的含义：表示主语的内容是什么。表示主语具有的特征。

 她的工作是尽量使报告厅保持干净。Her job is keeping the lecture hall as clean as possible

 真正的问题是了解学生的需要。The real question is getting to know the needs of the students

 他的爱好是集邮。His hobby is collecting stamps

 这个问题很令人困惑。The problem is quite puzzling

 看到了世界上其它地方找不到的动植物真是令人惊讶。it was astonishing to see the animals and plants that are found nowhere else in the world

 宴会上的食物似乎并不诱人。The food at the dinner party did not seem very inviting